Tag Archives: California painting

I recently returned from a beautiful trip up the California coast to Cambria, a quaint town just off Highway 1. Beautiful rolling hills, dramatic cliffs, and wonderful light provided plenty of inspiration for painting. Here are a few of my sketches from the trip.

{North side of Morro Rock}

8×10

oil on linen

{Evening Light at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, Cambria}

12×12

oil on linen

(Sold)

I’m still working (as I suppose I always will) to get better, to practice, practice, practice, and thinking about why I paint. There is something crucial about capturing the world truthfully, about communicating that arresting moment of seeing something that causes one

to stop,

to focus,

and to appreciate the beauty of the world.

Some scenes are more naturally picturesque than others, but it’s not about recording the postcard views. I’m trying to share my experience of the feeling of a place, to bring that home and into my life and hopefully others’ lives too.

Huntington Beach Art Center presents California Impressionism: Plein Air Painting, Past and Present, an exhibition for art-lovers who also love Impressionist painting. The bold color, bravura brushwork, and “captured light” of this historical and contemporary artistic movement have captivated audiences on the West Coast since the turn of the twentieth century. The Southern California community will now have an opportunity to view paintings of historical masters, as well as purchase those of contemporary painters who are inspired by light, nature, climate, and creative fellowship. The Huntington Beach Art Center will open its doors to give viewers a glimpse of a group of artists united across history through their love of subject and their passion to paint outdoors en plein air. “Our vision for this show is to present to the public an exhibition that they’ve never before seen, that is beautiful, historical, educational, and spectacular,” Director of the HBAC, Kate Hoffman notes.

This exhibition will have a dual focus. On one hand, it will feature masterworks of painters who were inspired by this area in the early decades of the 20th century; enough to move here, build here, and start a colony of artists known today as the city of Laguna Beach. Alongside those works, the exhibition will also feature the creations of a select group of artists from the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA), many of whom live in California, and all of whom have painted within the State. The Art Center has invited both Signature and Artist members of LPAPA, whose works you see in galleries, magazines, competitions, exhibitions, and shows across the country.

Wow–exciting news! I’m honored that these paintings will be included in the “California Impressionism: Plein Air Painting Past & Present” exhibition presented by the Huntington Beach Art Center in collaboration with LPAPA and the Irvine Museum.The show will feature work from some of my great artistic inspirations–William Wendt, Edgar Payne, and Guy Rose. (Amazing!)

Back Bay Blues

12×9

oil on linen

(sold)

Shadow of the Rock

16×12

oil on linen

(available)

I’m humbled be a part of a show with paintings from artists (both historical and contemporary) I admire so much. Hope you can get out to see this unique display of California plein air work!